Book fair: Addressing the issue of declining readership

Fair to serve as a prelude to the International Book Day on April 22

ISLAMABAD: In an effort to instil reading culture in the capital, Pakistan Academy of Letters (PAL) is hosting a five-day book fair from Monday (today). The fair, titled “Qaumi Kitaab Mela”, will be a prelude to the International Book Day, which will be celebrated across the country on April 22, PAL Chairperson Abdul Hameed said at a press conference on Sunday.

Hameed said the fair is a means to increase public interest in reading and to address waning interest in reading. He said that in addition to numerous book exhibitions – which will provide a variety of books at discounted prices – the festival will be a patronage to the Pakistani culture and will include a number of activities like mushairas, folk music and seminars on Urdu literature.

Hameed said that PAL is interested in attracting as many readers as possible from different walks of life and age groups; hence, he added that alongside non-governmental organisations, a number of youth schools, colleges and universities have also been invited to the event.

Throughout the five days, an author’s corner, titled “Gosha-i-Musannaf”, will be held in which book authors will read and discuss their work.

This is an attempt to gauge immediate interest in reading for individuals and open discourse about the intricacies of literature, Hameed added.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 16^th, 2012.